Supporters of Smithville’s Science Park Fighting to Keep The Facility There

It has been recently announced that the research work at MD Anderson Cancer Center Science Park in Smithville is scheduled to be relocated to the Life Sciences Research Campus being built in Houston Medical Center, according to a recent statement sent out to Friends of Science Park in Smithville by Bastrop County Tourism and Economic Development Director Adena Lewis. The relocation process is to take place in the next two  to five years. 

Lewis goes on to say: 

“The closing of MD Anderson Smithville would be a tremendous loss to Bastrop County.  The employees are your neighbors, friends, community leaders and are daily contributors, economically and personally, to our special place ...Since 1971 Bastrop County has taken great pride in being home to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Science Park, Smithville, Texas.  This cutting edge research center provides a unique campus for researchers and their partners to do the work that will indeed help make cancer history ... of special note is that of the 175 personnel at the Smithville Campus, 125 live in Bastrop County.”

 Several of the employees at Science Park live in Fayette County. On May 14 Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott that said, in part: 

“Dear Governor Abbott,

We need your help in  saving an institution that is vital to Bastrop County. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Science Park campus is located in the Lost Pines near Smithville, in eastern Bastrop County. Named The Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center, this world-class Science Park was established in the 1970s. This location provides an ideal setting for researchers from Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos as well as Houston. I understand consideration are pending that night move this department to Houston. Please don;t let this happen.

With 175 employees, the Science Park is one of Bastrop County’s largest employers ... The Science Park has an annual operating budget of $13 million. It would be a huge loss for our local economy should this center be moved to Houston ... Researchers at the Science Park are leaders in the world of cancer research ... James P. Allison, Ph.D., the 2018 recipient of the Nobel Prize for his pioneering research in cancer immunotherapy, started his career at the Science Park Campus.”

Lewis said she and Pape plan to deliver letters of support to keep the facility in Smithville “to decision makers that might indeed be able to help save the Smithville Campus.”